Minor corrections
The expert panel received requests for minor corrections from:
Department of Conservation – received 7 May 2026
Matamata-Piako District Council – received 15 May 2026
Matamata Development Limited (the applicant) – received 19 May 2026.
On 20 May 2026, the expert panel issued Minute 33 recording its decision on the request for corrections.
Minute 33 of the expert panel (PDF, 235KB)
Letter from Department of Conservation seeking minor corrections (PDF, 211 KB)
Letter from Matamata-Piako District Council seeking minor corrections (PDF, 200 KB)
Email from the applicant requesting minor corrections (PDF, 125 KB)
Amended decision report and conditions of consent
The amended decision and conditions of consent replace the original versions issued on 21 April 2026.
- Ashbourne final decision (PDF, 1 MB)
- APPENDIX A – MPDC – LUC – NSF (PDF, 684 KB)
- APPENDIX A – MPDC – LUC – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 1 MB)
- APPENDIX A – MPDC – LUC – SSF (PDF, 599 KB)
- APPENDIX A – MPDC – SUB – DAY 0 (PDF, 442 KB)
- APPENDIX A – MPDC – SUB – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 546 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – PERMANENT – Diversion and damming – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 424 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – PERMANENT – Diversion and damming – SSF (PDF, 396 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – PERMANENT – Stormwater-RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 523 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – PERMANENT – Structure in water – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 409 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Dewatering – Groundwater take – NSF (PDF, 362 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Dewatering – Groundwater take – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 369 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Dewatering – Groundwater take – SSF (PDF, 366 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Drilling below the water table – NSF (PDF, 280 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Drilling below the water table – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 281 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Drilling below the water table – SSF (PDF, 278 KB)
- APPENDIX A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Land disturbance – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 542 KB)
Superseded decision report and conditions of consent
On 21 April 2026, the panel determined to:
grant the solar farm approvals
grant, in part, the residential development approvals sought, subject to the conditions in Appendix A of this decision
decline the retirement village and the associated approvals sought.
- SUPERSEDED_Ashbourne Decision (PDF, 2 MB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – MPDC – LUC – NSF (PDF, 1 MB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – MPDC – LUC – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 2 MB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – MPDC – LUC – SSF (PDF, 1 MB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – MPDC – SUB – DAY 0 (PDF, 795 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – MPDC – SUB – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 956 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – PERMANENT – Diversion and damming – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 858 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – PERMANENT – Diversion and damming – SSF (PDF, 813 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – PERMANENT – Stormwater–RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 1023 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – PERMANENT – Structure in water – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 797 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Dewatering – Groundwater take – NSF (PDF, 782 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Dewatering – Groundwater take – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 785 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Dewatering – Groundwater take – SSF (PDF, 782 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Drilling below the water table – NSF (PDF, 721 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Drilling below the water table – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 722 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Drilling below the water table – SSF (PDF, 722 KB)
- SUPERSEDED_Appendix A – WRC – TEMPORARY – Land disturbance – RESIDENTIAL (PDF, 986 KB)
Appeal rights
The panel’s decision can be appealed to the High Court in whole or in part on questions of law only. Any of the following persons may appeal:
the applicant (or, if the substantive application was lodged by more than 1 authorised person, the person who was proposed to hold the approval)
any relevant local authority
the Attorney-General
any person or group that provided comments in response to an invitation given under this Act.
A notice of appeal must be filed with the Registrar of the High Court within 20 working-days after the date on which the decision document that relates to the approval is published.
Appeals can be served on the panel by emailing them to: general.counsel@epa.govt.nz.
or by post to:
Ashbourne expert panel
c/- Environmental Protection Authority
Attn: General Counsel
Private Bag 63002
Wellington 6140
Further details on how to proceed with an appeal are covered in section 100 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.
Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 No 56, Public Act 100 Procedural matters – New Zealand Legislation